Renee Good's family breaks silence on claims she had criminal past

The family of the woman who was gunned down by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minnesota last week has broken their silence on claims she had a criminal past. Renee Nicole Good, a poet and mother-of-three, was shot three times in the face by ICE agent Jonathan Rosson Wednesday after she ignored demands to get out of her car, reversed it, and tried to drive off during a protest. Since her death, claims have been made that she has a criminal history and that she committed 'domestic terrorism' that day by allegedly purposely trying to hit Ross, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, President Trump, and other top officials.

But according to her grieving family, that is not at all who Good was, and she does not deserve the 'nasty' comments swirling around about her. 'I’ve been pretty quiet about this, because I wanted to wait until our family could piece together a statement… and it is finally published. You never think the passing of a loved one will be high profile… or a massively divisive, political topic,' Morgan Fletcher, Good's sister-in-law, posted to Facebook on Monday. 'Regardless of what happened, she was our family. Cole and my sister-in-law. And our nephew… is now an orphan,' Fletcher, who is related to Good's late ex-husband, Timmy Macklin Jr., said.

'And we’ve seen the false claims and the wrong Renee Good’s info being posted (criminal history? She didn’t have one),' Fletcher wrote. Good's friends have claimed she became involved in activism through her six-year-old son's charter school and its local 'ICE Watch group,' which is a coalition of activists who seek to disrupt immigration raids. Following her death, which has been highly publicized across the nation and drawn political controversy, Good's family said they want society to understand that she was a human being. 'No matter where you stand on the issue of ICE or whether or not you think she did or didn’t deserve what happened, please remember she was a human being and she had loved ones… including children who can and will likely see all of these things about their mother… and her wife, whom she loved dearly.

'Please remember to BE KIND. And if you claim to be a Christian, especially, please check your heart, attitude, and response to the tragic death. For they will know you by your fruits,' Fletcher said. In a full statement made by the family, Good was remembered as someone who 'was full of heart and never defined by malice.' 'Thank you to everyone who has shown up, spoken out, and held space for the family during this incredibly difficult time,' the statement read. 'We know Renee would be there too, cheering on those who fight for justice and standing with the people, causes, and community she loved. We hope this inspires accountability, compassion, and meaningful change so that fewer families have to endure this kind of pain.'

Nearly a week after her death, federal investigators are reportedly investigating her possible connection with activists groups protesting Trump's immigration crackdown. FBI investigators - who have kicked local police off of the probe and are now leading it - have said they are conducting a thorough inquiry into the fatal shooting, including an analysis of the actions Ross took as well as physical evidence like the handgun used to kill Good.

Those familiar with the investigation reportedly told The New York Timesthat the civil rights division of the Department of Justice, which typically investigates police-involved shootings, has not opened a probe into whether Ross violated Good's rights under federal law. Ross is 'increasingly unlikely' to face criminal charges, the Times reported.